Ampherlaw House

The members of the Somerville family who held the Ampherlaw estate were cadets of the Lords Somerville of Carnwath and Linton. After the siege of Cowthally Castle in 1597, which later fell into ruins - three important stones were retained and erected at Ampherlaw. One is a marriage stone from 1569, another is of Dame Janet Maitland depicted as Charity and finally, there is a statue of Mary, Queen of Scots, playing the lute. This is especially suitable, as the Somerville family were supporters of the Marian cause and assisted in raising an army for her in 1568 at Hamilton. William Somerville Esq. of Ampherlaw, although the eldest son and born at Ampherlaw, was passed over for his younger…